Rules of the road in Greece. Parking in greece

Previously, we have already considered some of the issues related to, some features of the rules and penalties. Now is the time to arm yourself with a map and lay out the first route, but what other knowledge can be useful to us on the road?

Despite all the punitive severity, whoever has been to Greece - will not let you lie - in major cities traffic is very heavy and dangerous. This is especially true of the huge number of two-wheeled vehicles, which do not particularly bother about some kind of Rules.

When maneuvering on the road, also try to look in the rear mirror more often, and even if you don’t see anyone there, remember that the motorcycle or moped may be in the dead zone at this moment.

Features of urban planning in Athens, Thessaloniki and Parta include a large number of sharp turns, many intersections and one-way streets, which also makes driving very difficult.

In cities, there is a shortage of signs " the main road” and “give way”, and therefore it is better to slow down at intersections in any case. As for signs, they are similar to ours - at least significant differences did not have to meet.

Another important factor is traffic lights. In Athens, it is better not to jump on the green, because among the Greeks there is a habit of trying to slip on the newly lit red. When stopping, it is better to turn on the emergency lights.

Parking anywhere is also not worth it, since in many places, especially in the center, parking is prohibited.

Chair parking only!

As for speed limits, in cities it is 50 km / h, on country roads - 80, on autobahns - 130. Although the Greeks come off to the fullest on autobahns and often 150 is not the limit. The quality of the roads does not raise any questions and is maintained at a very good level even in rural areas. As for the highways, the coverage on them is simply excellent.

Autobahns in Greece 2. One road connects Athens and Thessaloniki, the second - Athens with the Peloponnese. If you go from Corinth to Patras, then on the map the route along the bay is also indicated as an autobahn, although why this is so is better to ask the Greeks themselves.

In my opinion, this is one of the most extreme roads on which you have traveled. Unlike the Athens-Korinth highway, where there are many lanes in all directions and normal barriers, there are fewer lanes on the road to Patras, the speed is higher and there are a lot of truckers making such overtaking that it is sometimes scary to look in the rear mirror.

Autobahns in Greece are paid. The fare is about 1.5-3 euros and is usually paid in cash.

Please note that most gas stations are open until 19.00. Exceptions are in large cities and on highways. Therefore, if you choose to travel around the neighborhood in the evening, keep an eye on the amount of gasoline.

Useful articles

Do you love sauna? When the heat permeates your whole body? In every cell, in every chromosome? Yes? Then it's time for you to go to Greece! And imagine the situation that you took a steam bath in the sauna, you leave the bathhouse, and the same sauna is outside the door. This is Greece in the summer. Vacationers can hide under the air conditioner, but for travelers, the only salvation is a car.

Well, where Car rental in Greece, there are questions about roads, especially in Greece there are toll roads and, making up the route, small, but, nevertheless, expenses should be taken into account.

So, what about the roads in Greece? The roads in Greece are good. A lot of them. They are different. We talked about how rural roads look in the article. It's not just dirt roads. These are roads slightly littered with large stones.

If you do not dream of getting out of the car every minute to remove a stone from your narrow path, then choose big roads, freeways and highways. A lot of them.

See for yourself:

• The length of public roads throughout Greece is 117,000 km.

• Paved roads 107,406 km.

• Motorways for 1600 km.

The concept of "paved roads" includes asphalt roads. In the countryside (where we were - the road to Halkidiki), paved roads are similar to our own: the asphalt swells and fails in places. So what to do? - nature rules. Hard surface against grass. The cover loses.

After adventures with rural roads, Galya and I made it a rule to drive along the same 1,600 km of motorways. And they didn't regret it!

You can learn about the driving style of the Greeks from the article.

Road signs limiting speed

Speed ​​limits in Greece are standard.
For auto:

• 50 km/h in built-up areas

• 90 km/h outside built-up areas

• 110 km/h on the road

• 130 km/h on the autobahn

We heard stories from acquaintances how they were speeding along the autobahn at a speed of 170 km/h and covered the distance super fast. We ourselves did not see signs allowing movement at this speed. We suggest you calculate the travel time based on the realities and permit signs.

Travel expenses

When we prepare a route, we take into account both large and small expenses. Small ones tend to accumulate and turn into medium ones. Therefore, we advise you to pay attention to the details:

1. When we rent a car, we make sure in advance that we take it one way - one way. Those. We take in one place, for example, in, and rent it in another place, for example, in Athens and we do not pay for the return trip of the car in Thessaloniki.

• Information for those who take the car for the first time:

There is such a clause in the rental agreement - one way (one way) you take a car or round trip. Note! If your route is looped - from where you left, you returned there, then - there are no problems. If your itinerary does not involve returning to the starting point of the trip, then carefully study the contract. The issue price can be 200 and 300 euros. Depending on the travel distance.

2. Part of the roads and some objects - tunnels and bridges in Greece are paid. So travel on the famous longest in Europe cable-stayed bridge Rio - Antirio, connecting Greece and the Peloponnese peninsula costs: for cars 13, 20 euros, for motorcycles 1, 90 euros.

The Aktio – Preveza Tunnel Toll for passenger car from 3 euros and 0.70 euros for a motorcycle.

Rio - Antirio - the longest cable-stayed bridge in Europe

3. When preparing the route, we select the road and look in Google Maps to see if there are toll sections on it and where they are.

4. In the same place, in Google Maps, you can roughly estimate how much gasoline you need and how much money it will take. This information is also included in the tutorial.

How much are toll roads

In Greece, different sections of the road are managed by different management companies. The fee is based on the distance travelled. We have written in detail about prices and which roads are tolled.

We pay before entering the toll section of the road.

The place of payment is impossible to miss. Don't worry, you won't pass by. Tariffs and pictures hang on the bridge. Fares are calculated based on vehicle height and number of axles. Actually the picture quickly makes it clear where you better get up and how much to pay.

For household expenses, you can estimate about 2 to 3 euros. For auto.
It is better to keep money at hand and prepare a trifle. There are no queues. Everything is done quickly.

Gasoline in Greece

In our opinion, the most convenient way to travel around Greece is by car. But with gasoline you need to be careful. We hit history when there was a gas station strike in Greece. Left without gasoline. Since then, Galya and I have been trying to keep the tank full. Without fanaticism, within reasonable limits. What we wish you.

Everything a tourist needs to know about car rental in Greece: cost, documents, insurance, traffic rules, toll roads, as well as the main car rental companies in Greece.

Rent a car in Greece and go to an amusing trip on the mainland or fly to Rhodes or Crete and travel around the island up and down in a week - the choice is yours. And we will try to provide you with everything necessary information For comfortable travel. Going on a trip to Greek cities and villages without knowledge of the language, keep in mind that the inscriptions on the signs are duplicated in English only on highways and in cities, and on roads local importance and in Crete it is customary to use only Greek. We do not recommend renting a car to travel around Athens - traffic in the city is chaotic, with parking in the center of the problem, and you can easily get stuck in a traffic jam. For trips to mountainous areas choose a four-wheel drive car, and in cities it is more convenient to drive around and park, having a compact subcompact at your disposal.

In Greek, car rental is ενοικίαση αυτοκινήτων, but you can also refer to the signs "rent a car". IN high season(from mid-June to mid-September) it makes sense to book a car in advance via the Internet, and in low season - on the contrary, negotiate on the spot, demanding a discount. Booking through a hotel or guide provides a guarantee of the reliability of the rental broker, but slightly increases the price. Local distributors have traditionally lower prices than international companies, but the level of support in the event of an accident can be limping.

The approximate cost of renting an economy class car is 30-50 EUR per day, on the islands it is always a little more expensive.

In Greek rental companies, you can often get a car without leaving a deposit either in cash or by freezing funds on the card. You need to return the car with the same amount of gasoline in the tank with which you received it.

Often, contrary to expectations, the prices on the rental company's website differ by one and a half to two times (in a big way) from the prices in their office. Using the intermediary services of a guide, get something in between these two values.

Documents, insurance

To rent a car in Greece, you will need a driver's license (often our national one is quite suitable, but with an IDP, the choice of rental offices becomes wider). The age of the driver must be at least 21 years old (in some agencies, at least 23 years old and not more than 70 years old), with at least a year of experience. The cost of car rental in Greece usually includes: fire insurance and civil liability. TPC - Theft Protection Coverage (insurance against theft) and different types CASCO: CDW- insurance with deductible; Super CDW - insurance with a deductible, the amount of which decreases with a daily surcharge; FDW - full CASCO (does not include compensation for a perforated wheel, damage to the bottom, broken windshield or rearview mirror). Sometimes an additional payment may be assigned for each kilometer that you drive, and will be taken from you when you return the car - be careful when concluding a contract.

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Fuel and refills

At Greek gas stations, you can fill up with 95th and 98th unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel (petreleo). Leaded gasoline is not sold. It is not allowed to transport gasoline in canisters. On the islands, gasoline is always slightly more expensive than on the mainland, due to the need to transport it by water. Many gas stations close at 19:00, but there is always one round-the-clock gas station per city.

Traffic Laws

Dipped beam during the day is mandatory only in conditions of poor visibility, the rest of the time its use is prohibited. Children under 3 years of age can only travel in special seats, and under 11 years of age they are not allowed to ride in the front seat. Seat belts must be fastened for everyone in the car. Talking on the phone "with the use of hands" is prohibited. An audible signal is allowed to be used only in case of danger of an accident.

Speed ​​limit in Greece. Settlement: 50 km/h. outside locality: 90 km/h. Highway: 110 km/h. Motorway: 130 km/h.

Make sure that the car you rented is equipped with everything you need: a warning triangle, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher. It is prohibited to use and transport radar detectors in Greece.

Greece is the leader among European countries by the number of accidents. Greek drivers are often dismissive of traffic rules. You should not follow their example.

On the streets Greek cities there are specific signs: "Parking is prohibited on this side of the road on odd months" and "Parking is prohibited on this side of the road on even months."

fines

In Greece, traffic police officers do not have the right to collect fines on the spot. The receipt issued by them must be paid at the bank, and in the same region in which the fine was issued. For prompt payment of the fine (up to 10 days) - 50% discount. However, if payment is delayed, the amount of the fine can increase significantly. For a short-term car rental, you can give the receipt (and money, of course) to the rental company along with the car. They will pay the fine themselves.

The permitted blood alcohol content of a driver in Greece is 0.5‰. For drivers with experience less than 2 years - 0.2 ‰.

Some amounts of fines: speeding - from 40 EUR to 350 EUR; incorrect parking - 120 EUR; non-use of seat belts - 350 EUR or even a short-term deprivation of rights; talking on the phone without hands free - 150 EUR or even a short-term deprivation of rights; drunk driving - from 200 EUR to 2000 EUR, possible imprisonment; passing a red light or crossing a double solid line - 1050 EUR; violation of the rules for transporting children - 80-100 EUR; the presence of a radar detector in the car - 2000 EUR.

Toll roads

In full accordance with the famous statement, there are also toll roads in Greece. Payment for each paid section is usually 2.80-4.80 EUR. On stretching from west to east almost the entire mainland Greece motorway Egnatia 5 payment points, at each of them you will have to leave 2.80 EUR.

Sections with special payment: the underwater tunnel Aktio - Preveza (passage for cars - 3 EUR) and the 3-kilometer bridge Rio - Antirio (passage for cars - 13.20 EUR).

Parking in Greece

Like almost everywhere in Europe, in the center of large Greek cities it is not easy to find a place where you can park for free and not get a ticket for your windshield. Do not try to save money by leaving the car in the wrong place. If you can't find free parking - park your car in paid parking. On the islands and coastal areas of the mainland, each port has large parking lots. True, from there it can be far from the main attractions.

The price of parking is different everywhere. Maybe you will be lucky to leave the car for an unlimited time for 2-3 EUR, and sometimes you have to fork out 2-3.50 EUR per hour. In Thessaloniki, for example, parking costs 3.5 EUR per hour. best deal with free parking is in Crete. On Rhodes paid parking only in Rhodes (1.5 EUR per hour) and in Lindos (3 EUR per hour). You can park on the street only if there are white (free) or blue (paid) markings. Parking at the yellow line is prohibited.

The usual practice for Greece is that the first hour is the most expensive, and then it is cheaper. The exception is the new rules for the center of Athens.

Parking on the street in the center of Athens for city guests is only possible if the markings are made with white lines. Yellow lines indicate places for residents of the city. You will have to pay for parking on weekdays from 9 am to 9 pm and on Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm. On Sunday parking is free. You can park for a maximum of 3 hours, cost: 1 hour - 0.50-1 EUR, 2 hours - 2-3 EUR, 3 hours - 4-6 EUR.

The local police have the right to confiscate the license plates of an incorrectly parked vehicle. This also applies to rental cars.

Prices on the page are for October 2018.

The observance of traffic rules in Greece is already evidenced by the fact that traffic accidents are one of the main causes of death among Greeks aged 18 to 39 years. Every year, about 1,500 people die on the roads here, and in terms of traffic safety, the country ranks one of the last places weight.

Fines and police

Since 2007 local authorities severely tightened penalties for violators of traffic rules. So, for example, driving through a red traffic light is punishable by a fine of 700 euros, as well as the withdrawal of rights for 60 days and a registration certificate with numbers for 20.

Failure to comply with the stop sign and give way - 700/20/20, respectively, driving with an unfastened seat belt - 350 euros with withdrawal of rights for up to 10 days.

The Greeks are most scrupulous about driving while intoxicated and using anti-radar devices. In the first case, in addition to the temporary withdrawal of rights, the violator will face a fine of 200 to 2000 euros, depending on the alcohol content in the blood, in the second - 2000 euros without talking.

As for the traffic police, there are not many of them. Especially if you are traveling along the coast or the countryside: you can drive thousands of kilometers without meeting a single traffic cop. Of course, there are more police in Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras, although local drivers do not seem to care much.

Since 2007, the authorities have seriously tightened penalties for violators

In general, the police are quite supportive of tourists. There are, of course, different situations and violations, but you can talk to them. Nevertheless, there have been cases of seizure of rights from citizens of Russia and Ukraine in Greece, and therefore still be careful, because you don’t smile to return home without a license.

If you are still fined, then the fact that the state provides a 50% discount on the amount of the fine for those violators who pay it within 10 days from the date of the violation can sweeten the bitter pill. After this period, you will have to pay all 100%.

At the same time, if you are traveling in a rented car, you should take into account that it is you who will have to pay the fine, and not the rental company.

Katerina Maksimova ... A few important rules!

1) Always seated in front must be fastened! Children under 7 years old in a child seat!

2) The driver must not take a single gram of alcohol!

3) Crossing a double solid line is a gross violation and an expensive fine for it!

4) B big cities do not spare 3-4-5 euros for paid parking! In this case, the miser pays oh so much!

5) Do not exceed the speed limit of 20 km or more!

Have a good rest and unforgettable impressions!

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It seems that those sitting behind should also.

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Has the permissible 0.5 ppm been canceled in Greece?

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Well not in Crete big cities in general, in any town you can find a free parking place, without any violations.

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Is it really true? I am very surprised and have not seen such information anywhere. It seems everywhere they write 0.5 ppm.

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I didn’t see it completely empty, but I always found a place to park for free and without violation.

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Well, what is the difference from Russian rules? Everything is the same :))) Only a turn through a continuous one in Greece is in the order of things for everyone, everyone didn’t care about the speed limit (it’s supposed to be 90, they drive under 100), etc. But, the Greeks are somehow neat, delicate, without impudence. I paid for parking only once in Elounda and then you could find a place. There are almost no problems with free parking in Crete. It is customary to give way, leaving the right, if a car is approaching from behind. Coins are almost nowhere to be seen.

The new - dry law was introduced from 01-01-2011. and in the last maximum, the alcoholic aisle was 03.ml. I know this because my brother is a policeman in Thessaloniki! As for parking... Katerina is looking for a way to insure and not save money! For me, as a resident of Crete, it doesn't matter if you can park or not! If I need to, I park and go about my business!

Dive Do you watch Greek news? I'm sure not! I will briefly tell you what they say and what is happening! This year, a large influx of tourists is expected in Greece! Hotels opened in Crete that were closed for 5 or even 7 years! The government, at the discretion of the order, plans to tighten the military police in resort areas! Greece this year intends to get out of the crisis!

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I'm sorry, can I give some official link to this law, as I understand it, traffic rules? It's just interesting to read, especially knowing how the Cretans themselves and the tourists combine wine and beer in taverns and driving.

ronning It was information on TV! There was a transmission like New Year, new rules!) As for the Cretans themselves, that's a different story and concerns the politics of Crete! But briefly, I will say ... There are no local police and police in Crete! If there are a dozen people, then they are not heard because they are in high ranks, and those who are on the roads, they are visitors from the mainland ... And this means a lot!

Oleg Krete, what about the cameras on the national highway in Crete now? :) I remember that almost all of them did not work 2 years ago, they were either broken or wrapped in black film. my husband, a fairly careful driver, then had a momentary clouding of reason from beauty Greek nature and in particular, the monastery, which was located right next to the road. :)) Not only did my husband, having driven a couple of kilometers from the monastery, turn the wrong way, crossing a double solid line when turning around (it seemed to him that we were going in the wrong direction :))), we also drove under a surveillance camera, and then I remembered that while sitting in the front seat, I did not fasten my seat belt. I was so scared that then I worried for another 2 weeks of rest, imagining the size of the fine. then, from a person who lives there, she learned the secret of the open chambers about the non-working cameras. I calmed down only when I went down the ladder already here in Moscow time, they didn’t demand a fine from us then). :))
So that's how it is... with the cameras now? :)

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Where did the Greeks get such confidence? What did they do so special to make this happen?
Or is it not harmful to dream? If only they rely on the Germans and the British, cat. they will be afraid to go towards Egypt, Tunisia, and now Turkey ... Ours from Egi & Tu will never leave. There are no price preferences for hotels either ...

Oleg Krete

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